"I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can
be thwarted!" Job 42:2

We cannot do what we desire to do. Many of our purposes
are thwarted. We desire to do good and
beautiful things, and we try — but our actual achievements
fall far below our desires. Our
clumsy hands cannot fashion the loveliness
which our hearts dream of. Our faltering weakness
cannot do the brave things our souls aspire to do. No artist
ever paints on his canvas — all the beauty of his
ideal. No singer ever expresses — all the music
which burns within him as he sings. No eloquent orator
ever utters — all that he feels as he pleads for truth
or for justice.

So in all our life — we do only a little of what we
strive to do. We set out in the morning with
purposes of usefulness, of true living, of
gentle-heartedness, of patience, of victoriousness; but in
the evening we find only little fragments of these good
intentions actually wrought out!

But God's plans and intentions are all carried out! No
power can withstand Him — or frustrate His will. It was in
this thought, that Job found peace in his long, sore
trial: all things were in God's hands, and nothing could
hinder His designs of love! Our God is infinitely strong.
In all earthly confusions, strifes, and troubles — His
hand moves, bringing good out of evil for those who trust
in Him. He executes all His purposes of good. He is never
hindered in blessing His children.

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can
be thwarted!" Job 42:2

The word tribulation is very suggestive. It comes
from a root which means 'a flail'. The thresher uses
the flail to beat the wheat sheaves, that he may separate
the golden wheat from the chaff and straw.

Tribulation is God's threshing
— not to destroy us, but to get what is good, heavenly, and
spiritual in us — separated from what is wrong,
earthly, and fleshly. Nothing less than blows of pain
will do this. The golden wheat of goodness in us, is so
closely wrapped up in the strong chaff of sin — that only the
heavy flail of suffering can produce the separation!

Many of us would never enter the gates of pearl — were it not
for this unwelcome messenger, pain! "We must go through many
troubles to enter the kingdom of God!" Acts 14:22

Oh, that men and women would learn to live with the
awareness that one day they are going to die!
Truly, it is waste of time to set our hearts on a dying
world and its short-lived comforts and pleasures;
and for the sake of momentary pleasures — to lose a
glorious eternity in Heaven! Here we are striving,
laboring, exhausting ourselves about little things, and running here and there like ants on
an anthill! And yet after a few years, we
will all be gone — and another generation will take
our place. Let us live for eternity! Let us seek
His Kingdom and His Righteousness that can never be taken
from us!

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,set
your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated
at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things! When Christ, who is
your life, appears — then you also will appear with Him in
glory!" Colossians 3:1-4

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

That
ruthless invader of all happiness!
(John MacDuff, "Grapes of Eschol")
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. In My Father's
house are many mansions! I am going there to
prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you
to be with Me — that you also may be where I am!" John
14:1-3

The verse speaks of PERMANENCY — they are "mansions." The
word in the original is not a tent or temporary
shelter — but a durable residence, never to be
altered or demolished. "The tents of the East,"
says Professor Hackett, "seldom remain long in the same
place. The traveler erects his temporary abode for the
night, takes it down in the morning, and journeys onward.
The shepherds of the country are also always moving from
one place to another. The brook dries up on which
they relied for water, or the grass required for
the support of their flocks is consumed — and they wander
on to a new station."

How strikingly illustrative is this of the Bible figure,
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in
is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal
house in heaven, not built by human hands!" 2
Corinthians 5. This mortal body, like the nomadic
tent, is up-reared for a time — but, after serving its
temporary purpose — it is, pin by pin, demolished, and the
place that once knew it, knows it no more.

Not so the ever-enduring mansions of our Father's house!
"A priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is reserved
in heaven for you — pure and undefiled, beyond the reach
of change and decay!" 1 Peter 1:4. No failing of brooks
there! No joys there will be withered and smitten like
the grass of the wilderness. "The Lamb in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to
living fountains of waters!"

Ah! it is the saddest, the most humiliating feature of the
joys of earth, that, however pure, noble, elevating
they may be at the moment — there is no calculating on
their permanency. The mind will, in spite of
itself, be haunted with the dark possibility ofthat ruthless invader of all
happiness coming and dashing the full cup
in a thousand fragments on the ground!

But in Heaven, no shadow of vicissitude or change can ever
enter to dim an ever-brightening future! Once within that
heavenly fold — we are in the fold forever! On the lintels
of the eternal mansion are inscribed the words, "You
shall never leave it!" Our happiness and joy will be
as immutable and stable — as God's everlasting love and
power and faithfulness can make them!

~ ~ ~
~ ~

It
shall be well with him!
(John MacDuff, "The Christian's Pathway" 1858")

"Say to the righteous, that it
shall be well with him!" Isaiah
3:10

The human family is divided into a great variety of social
and artificial distinctions. But, in the sight of God —
there are but two classes, into which the
multifarious elements of universal humanity can be
resolved. There are only the righteous — and the wicked.
Concerning one of these classes — God proclaims that
it shall be well with them; while to the other —
He pronounces a solemn woe.

What makes the condition of a wicked man to be so fearful,
is the solemn fact that God is against him! And what makes
that of the righteous to be so blessed — is that God is
for him!
All the divine attributes are arrayed against the
impenitent sinner — but when he becomes a saint, they all
join to take his part. Such being the case, having the
eternal Jehovah in all his boundless perfections on his
side, it cannot be otherwise than well with him.

It shall be well with the righteous, not merely in life
— but in death. It is appointed, by the
irrevocable decree of God — that all men must die. There
is no discharge in that war — no release from
that mortal struggle!Wealth has no bribe which death will receive.Wisdom has no art by which death can be avoided.Power has no defense against death.Beauty has no charm to death's eye.
The voice of eloquence is lost to death's ear.
Even religion has no security from death's
stroke!
Here the mightiest conqueror is vanquished — and the
proudest of monarchs finds himself a slave! From its
ruthless grasp — no age, no condition can escape!

Those who are in the bloom and freshness of youth cannot
escape — for "man, at his best estate, is altogether
vanity!"

The great and prosperous cannot escape — for "the rich man
also died — and was buried."

The wicked cannot escape — he is driven, yes,
dragged away in his wickedness; the most fearful of all
deaths is his — that of dying in his sins!

Neither can the righteous escape — he must go the
way of all the earth, and become a tenant of the silent
grave!

But, at that solemn season, it shall be well with
him!
When the last sands of the numbered hour are running out;
when his earthly friends will be compelled to leave him;
when the cold dews of death will be standing in large
drops upon his pallid brow;
when every nerve and vein may be racked and wrenched in
fearful agonies by the irresistible power of the grim
tyrant — even then it shall be well with him! The
dying strife will soon be over, and through death's gloomy
portals — he will enter upon that blessed state where all
is peace and bliss forever!

"And they will go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life!"
Matthew 25:46

Surely, if parents realized the value of their
children's souls; if they had a vivid sight of the danger
to which they are exposed; if they felt that they must
be saved by the Lord Jesus — or perish for ever — then
they would act very differently toward them!

Could a parent, if he believed the Scriptural
representation of hell, as a place of torment; and saw
that his child hung over that ever-burning lake as by a
thread — and might, at any moment, by some accident, be
plunged into the bottomless abyss; I say, if he saw and
believed this — could he let his child go on, day after
day, and month after month, without the tender
expostulation, the affectionate appeal, and the heart-felt
prayer with him? I think not!

Alas! alas! We do not half believe . . .
in the horrors of hell,
in the danger of our children, and
in the absolute necessity of faith in Christ, in
order to for them to be saved — or we could never live as
we do!

What anxiety is manifested about their health and their
education; and what indifference about their
never-dying souls! One feels at times ready to conclude
that many professing Christian parents must be half
infidels, or wholly insane — to act as they do!

Reader, suppose your child was
dying. His pulses are faint and few. He
breathes short and hard. You approach his bedside. You
take his hand in yours. He asks, "Father, did you
believe I was a sinner? Did you know that it was possible
I might die young? Were you aware that, without faith in
Christ — I must perish forever? Did you, father?"
"I did, my child."

"Then how could you be so cruel, so hard-hearted, as to
treat me in the way you have? You never took me aside to
talk to me seriously. You never endeavored to impress upon
my mind the importance of spiritual things. You never
earnestly warned me to flee from the wrath to come. You
never lovingly invited me to the Lord Jesus Christ. You
never prayed with me as if you believed I was in danger of
going to hell, and could only be saved by the grace of
God. You were very earnest about temporal things — but
indifferent about spiritual realities. You knew that I was
going to hell — and you did not try to prevent it. Now I
am lost! Lost for ever — and you are the cause of
it! Or, at least, you are accessory to my
everlasting damnation!"

Or, suppose you were before the Great White Throne,
and the Judge seated thereon, and you meet your children
there. One of them points to you, and says, "There is my mother!
She showed great concern about my body — but she never
showed anxiety about my soul. She never knelt by my side
in prayer. I never heard her plead with God for my soul,
nor did she ever, in downright earnest, plead with me. I
charge her, before the Judge of all — with cruelty to my
soul; and throughout eternity I shall curse the day that
ever I had such a parent! No name will excite my enmity,
or draw forth my bitter reproaches, like the name of my
mother! I am lost, lost forever — and my mother never
heartily tried to prevent it!"

Parents, how could you bear this? Parents, parents! By all
the tender ties that unite you to your children, I beseech
you to seek, first, principally, and most earnestly — the
conversion of your children!

Christ is more than a teacher. A teacher shows us
lofty qualities and attainments — and then leaves us in
hopeless weakness in the dust. But Christ is Helper,
Friend, Savior — as well as Teacher. He shows us what true
manliness is — and then comes into our life and inspires
us to strive after the things which He commends; and
then breathes His life into us to help us to be
what He teaches us to be.

It is not easy to be a man
— a true, noble, Christlike man. It means continual
struggle, for enemies of manliness meet us at
every step! Every inch of the way must be won in
battle. It means constant restraint and repression
of sin — for the 'old man' in us must be subdued and kept
under control. It means constant, painful discipline — for
the powers of nature are evil and unruly, and hard to tame
and control. It means unending toil and self-denial — for
we must climb ever upward, and the way is steep
and rugged, and SELF must be trampled to death under
our feet as we rise to higher life! It is hard to be
a true man — for all the odds seem against us. But Christ
lives, and He is Helper, Friend, and Guide — to every man
who truly receives Him as Lord and Master.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A union
which will last forever!
(John MacDuff, "The Christian's Pathway" 1858")

"My Beloved is mine — and I am His!" Song of Songs 2:14

This is the language of the Christian in the book of
Canticles. How great is the blessedness involved in such
an assurance! My beloved Jesus is mine . . .
in the dignity of His person;in the suitability of His offices;in the immensity of His love;
in the efficacy of His atonement;
in the riches of His abounding grace!

His righteousness is mine — to justify me,
His Spirit is mine — to sanctify me,
His power is mine — to defend me,
His wisdom is mine — to guide me, and
His Heaven is mine — to receive me!

And what does Christ say to the believer in
return?

"I am yours — and all that I have is yours! I have
boundless and unsearchable riches — and those
riches are for you! I have happiness to bestow,
such as the mind in its largest grasp has never been able
to conceive — and that happiness is for you! I have crowns
and scepters at My disposal — and all those honors are
for you! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit
with Me on My glorious throne!"

The Christian's exaltation and bliss is not a matter of
doubtful disputation. And what makes it so certain? It is
the blessed truth that the union which exists
between him and Christ — is an indissoluble union!
All other relations, however close and endearing, must be
broken. That union of husband and wife; and soul and body
— has no power to resist the assault of death, the
great destroyer.

All earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which
breaks every other bond — only strengthens the
bond between the Christian and Christ! Death, which
quenches every other love — only kindles that of
the believer for Jesus, into a purer and intenser flame!
Death, which snatches every other object from our
grasp — only brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who
is the fountain of life, the great center and source of
all blessedness.

Christian, rejoice in your union with Jesus!
The changes of time cannot touch it!
The storms of life cannot injure it!
The sword of persecution cannot sever it!
The damps of death cannot affect it!
The malice of hell cannot move it!
It is a union which will last
forever! It follows, therefore, that you,
if a partaker of it — will be rich forever, safe
forever, dignified forever, and blessed
forever!

There are some mistaken notions current
concerning the way in which God would help us.
People think that whenever they have a little trouble,
a bit of hard path to go over, a load to
carry, a sorrow to endure — that all they have to
do is to call upon God, and He will at once take away
their sorrow, or free them from the trouble. But this is
not the way that God helps us! His purpose of love
concerning us is — not to make all things easy for
us — but to make something of us!

When we ask God to save us from our trouble, to take the
struggles out of our life, to make the paths mossy, to
lift off every heavy load — He
will not do it! It would be most unloving
in Him to accommodate us. We must carry the burden
ourselves! All God promises is, to sustain us —
as we carry it! He wants us to learn life's lessons,
and to do this — we must be left to work out the problems
for ourselves.

There are rich blessings which can be gotten only
in sorrow. It would be short-sighted love indeed
— which would heed our cries, and spare us from sorrow —
and thus deprive us of the wonderful blessings which can
be gotten only in sorrow! God is too good to us to answer
our prayers — which would save us from pain, cost, and
sacrifice today — at the price of holier, better, truer
life in the end. He would not rob us of the blessing
that is in the burden — which we can get only by
carrying it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Secret
prayer

(Thomas Brooks, "A Word in Season to Suffering Saints")

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Colossians 4:2

In all the ages of the world, the saints have kept up secret
prayer. In spite of all opposers and persecutors, in prisons,
in dungeons, in dens, in chains, on racks, in banishments, and
in the very flames — the saints have still kept up this secret
prayer.

A Christian can as well . . .hear without ears, andlive without food, andfight without hands, andwalk without feet —
as he is able to live without secret prayer!

Secret prayer is the life
of our lives — the soul, the sweet, the heaven of all our
earthly enjoyments. Of all the duties of piety, secret prayer
is the most . . .
soul-sweetening,
soul-strengthening,
soul-enriching,
soul-fattening,
soul-refreshing,
soul-satisfying, and
soul-encouraging duty.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace — that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

~ ~ ~
~ ~

The
representative of Christ in this world
(Theodore Cuyler,
"Wayside Springs from the Fountain of Life" 1883)

"Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior
attractive in every way." Titus 2:10

Christ enjoined upon every one of His disciples to study
Him, to learn of Him, and to imitate
His example. A true Christian is the representative of
Christ in this world — the only embodiment
of gospel teaching and influences, that is
presented in human society. How vitally important is
it, then, that those of us who profess and call
ourselves Christians, should make our Christianity
attractive! Multitudes of people know very
little and think very little about the Lord Jesus;
nearly all the ideas they get of His religion — is
what they see in those who profess it!
An attractive Christian is the one who hits the
most nearly that golden mean between love on
the one hand — and firmness on the other
hand. He is strict — but not censorious. He is sound —
and yet sweet and mellow, as one who dwells much in
the sunshine of Christ's countenance. He never incurs
contempt by compromising with wrong — nor does he
provoke others to dislike of him by doing right in a
very harsh or hateful or bigoted
fashion.

Our Master is our model. What marvelous example of
gentleness, forbearance, and unselfish love adorned
His life! What He was — we, in our imperfect measure,
should pray and strive after. Study Jesus, brethren.
Get your souls saturated with His spirit. His grace
imparted to you and His example imitated
— can turn your deformity into beauty, and adorn your
lives with those things which are true and honest and
lovely. We must make our
daily religion more winsome!
"Leaving you an example — that you should follow in His
steps. 1 Peter 2:21

God is infinite in power, and therefore it is
impossible for any to withstand His will, or resist
the outworking of His decrees!!

Such a statement as that is well calculated to fill the
lost sinner with alarm — but from the believer, it
evokes nothing but praise.

Let us add a word, and see what a difference it makes —
"My God is infinite in power, and therefore
it is impossible for any to withstand His will, or
resist the outworking of His decrees!!"

My God is infinite in power! Then "I will
not fear what man can do unto me!" My God is infinite in power! Then
"whenever I am afraid — I will trust in Him!"

My God is infinite in power! Then "I will
both lay me down in peace, and sleep — for You alone
Lord, make me dwell in safety!" Psalm 4:8

"There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across
the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic
splendor. The eternal God is your refuge, and His
everlasting arms are under you!" Deuteronomy
33:26, 27

O the preciousness of this
truth! Here I am — a poor, helpless,
senseless 'sheep,' yet I am secure in the hand of
Christ! And why am I secure there? None can pluck me
thence — because the hand that holds me is that of the
Son of God, and all power in heaven and earth is His!

I have no strength of my own — the world, the flesh, and
the Devil, are arrayed against me — so I commit myself
into the care and keeping of my Lord Jesus. And what is
the ground of my confidence? How do I know that He is
able to keep that which I have committed unto Him? I
know it because He is God Almighty — the King of
kings and Lord of lords!

God's family is a sorrowing family. "I have chosen you," He says, "in the furnace
of affliction." The history of the church finds its
fittest emblem in the burning, yet unconsumed
bush, which Moses saw. Man is "born to
sorrow;" but the believer is "appointed thereunto."
If he is a "chosen vessel" — it is in the "furnace of
affliction."
If he is an adopted child of God — "chastening" is the
mark.
If he is journeying to the heavenly kingdom — his path
lies through "much tribulation."
But if his sufferings abound, much more so do His
consolations. To be comforted by God, may well reconcile
us to any sorrow with which it may please our heavenly
Father to visit us with.

In each season of affliction, to whom can we more
appropriately look — than to Jesus? He was preeminently
the man of sorrows — and acquainted with grief.

If you would tell your grief to one who knew grief
as none ever knew it;
if you would weep upon the bosom of one who wept
as none ever wept;
if you would disclose your sorrow to one who
sorrowed as none ever sorrowed;
if you would bare your wound to one who was
wounded as none ever was wounded
— then, in your affliction, turn from all creature
sympathy and succor, and look to Jesus! You could not take
. . .
your trial,
your affliction,
and your sorrow . . .
to a kinder nature,
to a tenderer bosom,
to a deeper love,
to a more powerful arm,
to a more sympathizing friend!
Go and breathe your sorrows into His heart — and He will
comfort you!

Blessed sorrow if, in the time of your bereavement,
your grief, and your solitude — you are led to Jesus,
making Him your Savior, your Friend, your Counselor and
your Shield.

Blessed loss, if it is compensated by a knowledge of
God, if you find in Him a Father now, to whom you will
transfer your ardent affections, upon whom you will repose
your bleeding heart, and in whom you will trust.

"This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father
in heaven" Matthew 6:9

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on
us, that we should be called children of God! And that
is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

Beloved, we have a heavenly Father.
He has adopted us into His family.
He not only wears a father's name — but he has a
father's heart.
He loves every believer with a father's love.
He watches over each of His children with a
father's care.
Yes, we have a Father — and He is always near us.
His heart is ever disposed to do us good.
He will not withdraw His eye from us!
He bids us . . .
to cast every care upon Him,
to expect every blessing from Him, and
to carry everything that troubles us, to Him.

Does providence frown on us, perplex, and
trouble us? Let us not fret, complain, or forebode — but
go and tell Father!

Does Satan tempt, suggest evil thoughts, or
endeavor to mislead us? Let us not parley with him, be
alarmed at him, or yield to him — but go at once and
tell Father!

Everything, whether painful or pleasant
— should lead us to our Father in heaven. He loves to
listen to our broken prayers. He loves to sympathize
with us. He never chides us for coming too often, or
refuses to listen to us. Happy child, who has such a
Father! And wise is that child — who carries everything
to his Father — who tells Him all, keeping nothing from
Him. When we carry our cares or our troubles to
Him, He says, "Leave them with Me. I will manage them. I
will settle them."

Christian, run to your Father
from every foe — and from every danger! Tell your
Father everything that vexes, grieves, or troubles you.
Trust your Father to manage all your affairs. Honor
your Father, by consulting Him on all matters, by
confiding to Him all your secrets, and by making His
written Word your daily rule on all points.

"The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and
delivers them out of all their troubles." With childlike
simplicity, filial confidence, and honest hearts — they
go and tell their Father!

Where was there ever resignation
like this? The life of Jesus was one long
martyrdom. From Bethlehem's manger to Calvary's
cross, there was scarcely one break in the clouds;
these gathered more darkly and ominously around Him —
until they burst over His devoted head as He uttered His
expiring cry! Yet throughout this pilgrimage of sorrow
— no murmuring accent escaped His lips. The most
suffering of all suffering lives — was one of
uncomplaining submission.

"Yet I want Your will to be done — not
Mine!" was the motto of this wondrous Being! When He came
into the world He thus announced His advent, "Lo, I
come, I delight to do Your will, O my God!" When
He left it, we listen to the same prayer of
blended agony and acquiescence, "O My Father, if it is
possible — let this cup pass from Me! Yet I want Your will
to be done — not Mine!"

Ah reader, what are your trials —
compared to His! What are the ripples in your tide
of woe — compared to the waves and billows which
swept over Him! If He, the spotless Lamb of God, "murmured
not," how can you murmur? His were the
sufferings of a bosom never once darkened with the passing
shadow of guilt or sin. Your
severest sufferings are deserved — yes,
infinitely less than you deserve! Are you tempted
to indulge in hard suspicions, as to God's faithfulness
and love, in appointing some peculiar trial? Ask yourself
— Would Jesus have complained? Should I seek to pry
into "the deep things of God," when He, in the
spirit of a weaned child, was satisfied with the solution,
"Even so, Father — for so it seems good in Your sight!"

"Even so,
Father!" Afflicted one! "tossed with tempest, and
not comforted," take that word on which Your
adorable Redeemer pillowed His suffering head,
"Father!" — and make it, as He did, the secret of
your resignation. "My Father!" my covenant God! the God
who spared not Jesus! It may well hush my every
repining word.

The sick
child will take the bitterest medicine from a father's
hand. "This cup which You, O God, give me to drink — shall
I not drink it? Be it mine to lie passive in the arms
of Your chastening love, exulting in the assurance
that all Your appointments, though sovereign, are never
arbitrary — but that there is a gracious 'need be' in them
all."

Drinking
deep of His sweet spirit of submission, you will be able
thus to meet, yes, even to welcome, your sorest cross,
saying, "Yes, Lord, all is well — just because it is Your
blessed will. Take me, use me, chasten
me — as seems good in Your sight. My will is resolved
into Yours. This trial is dark; I cannot see the 'why and
the wherefore' of it — yet I want Your will to be done —
not mine! My gourd is withered; I cannot see the
reason of so speedy a dissolution of my beloved earthly
shelter; my sense and sight ask in vain why these leaves
of earthly refreshment have been doomed so soon to
droop in sadness and sorrow. But it is enough. 'The
Lord prepared the worm!' I want Your will to be
done — not mine!"

Oh, how
does the stricken soul honor God by thus being silent
in the midst of dark and perplexing dealings,
recognizing in these, part of the needed discipline and
training — for a sorrowless, sinless, deathless
world; regarding every trial as a link in the
chain — which draws it to heaven, where the whitest robes
will be found to be those here baptized with suffering,
and bathed in tears!

Too legibly, are the characters written on the fallen
heart and a fallen world — "All seek their own!" Selfishness
is the great law of our degenerated nature! When the love
of God was dethroned from the soul — SELF
vaulted into the vacant seat, and there, in some one
of its ever-changing shapes, continues to reign.

Jesus stands out for our imitation, as a grand solitary exception
in the midst of a world of selfishness. His entire
life was one abnegation of self — a beautiful
living embodiment of that love which "seeks not her own."

Ah, how different is the spirit of the world! With how
many, is day after day only a new oblation to that idol
SELF — pampering their own wishes; and envying and
grieving at the good of a neighbor — thus engendering
jealousy, discontent, peevishness, and every kindred
unholy passion.

"But you have not so learned Christ!" Reader! have you
been sitting at the feet of Him who "pleased not Himself?"
Are you "dying daily;" dying to self — as well as
to sin? Are you animated with this as the high end
and aim of existence — to lay out your time, and talents,
and opportunities — for God's glory and the good of your
fellow-men; not seeking your own interests — but rather
relinquishing these, if, by doing so, another will be made
holier, and your Savior honored?

Christ's denial of self, had about it no repulsive
austerity. And you can evince its holy influence and
sway, by innumerable little offices of kindness and
goodwill; taking a generous interest in the welfare of
others, or engaging in schemes for the mitigation of human
misery.

Avoid ostentation — which is only another
repulsive form of self. Be eager to be in the shadows;
sound no trumpet before you. The evangelist Matthew
held a great banquet for Jesus at his house; but in his
Gospel, he says not one word about it!

Seek to live more constantly and habitually under the
constraining influence of the love of Jesus! Selfishness withers and dies beneath
Calvary!

Ah, believer! if Christ had "pleased Himself," where would
you have been this day?

"Christ's great end," says Richard Baxter, "was to save
men from their sins — but He also delighted to
save them from their sorrows." His heart bled for
human misery. Benevolence brought Him from heaven; and
benevolence followed His steps wherever He went on earth.
The journeys of the Divine
Philanthropist were marked by tears of thankfulness,
and breathings of grateful love. The helpless,
the blind, the lame, the desolate — rejoiced at the sound
of His footfall. Truly might it be said of Him, "I helped
those without hope — and they blessed Me. And I caused the
widows' hearts to sing for joy!" (Job 29:13)

All suffering hearts were a magnet to
Jesus. It was not more His prerogative, than His happiness
— to turn tears into smiles! One of the few
pleasures which on earth gladdened the spirit of the "Man
of sorrows" was the pleasure of doing good —
soothing grief, and alleviating misery. Next to the joy of
the widow of Nain when her son was restored — was the joy
in the bosom of the Divine Restorer!

He often went out of His way to be kind. A journey was not
grudged, even if one aching heart were to be
soothed (Mark 5:1; John 4:4, 5). Nor were His kindnesses
dispensed through the intervention of others. They were
all personal acts. His own hand healed.
His own voice spoke. His own footsteps lingered
on the threshold of bereavement, or at the precincts of
the tomb. Ah! had the princes of this world known the
loving tenderness and unselfishness of that wondrous heart
— "they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory!"

Reader! do you know anything of such active
benevolence? Have you ever felt the luxury of
doing good? Have you ever felt, that in making
others happy — you make yourself so? Do you know anything
of that great law of your being, enunciated by the Divine
Patron and Pattern of Benevolence, "It is more
blessed to give — than to receive?"

Has God enriched you with this world's goods? Seek to view
yourself as a consecrated medium for dispensing them to
others. Beware alike of miserly hoarding — and selfish
extravagance! How sad the case of those whose lot
God has made thus to abound with temporal mercies, who
have gone to the grave unconscious of diminishing one drop
of human misery, or making one of the world's myriad
aching hearts happier! How the example of Jesus rebukes
the cold and calculating kindnesses — the mite-like offerings
of many even of His own people! "whose libation is not
like His, from the brim of an overflowing cup —
but from the bottom — from the dregs!"

You may have little to give. Your sphere and
means may be alike limited. But remember that God
is as much glorified by the trifle bestowed from the earnings
of poverty — as by the splendid benefaction from the
lap of plenty. "The Lord loves a cheerful
giver!"

The nobler part of Christian benevolence is not
vast donations, or munificent financial sacrifices. "He
went about doing good." The merciful visit — the
friendly word — the look of sympathy — the cup of cold
water — the little unostentatious service — the giving
without thought or hope of recompense — the kindly
"considering of the poor" — anticipating their needs —
considering their comforts — these are what God values and
loves! They are "loans" to Himself — tributary streams to
"the river of His pleasure". They will be acknowledged at
last as such — "I assure you: Whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of Mine — you did for Me!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The only
suitable dress for a saved sinner!
(John MacDuff, "The Footsteps of Jesus" 1856)

"Be clothed with humility." 1 Peter 5:5

"True humility," said one, "is a lovely ornament; it is the only suitable dress for a saved
sinner!" O let us seek then to be clothed in
this robe — that we may be brought to lie low at the
footstool of our Maker and Redeemer.

In the saints of old, this grace of humilityappeared with marked prominence — and they are patterns
for our imitation.

There was Abraham, the father of the faithful and the
friend of God. How great was his humility! how profound his
self-abasement! "I have ventured to speak to the Lord — even
though I am nothing but dust and ashes!" He was filled
with a consciousness of his absolute nothingness in the
presence of the Great Eternal.

There was David also, who speaks of himself as "a
worm — and not a man!"

Job cried out, "Behold, I am vile!"

In the apostle Paul, again, what a striking
exemplification have we of this grace of humility. If
self-delight were ever allowable in any individual, it would
be in him; for such a laborious, self-denying, unselfish
character, has, doubtless, not yet appeared — the man Christ
Jesus alone and always excepted.

But what were his views and feelings in reference to himself?
On one occasion we hear him saying that he was not worthy
to be called an apostle. At another time he says, "I
am less than the least of all God's people!" And when
penning one of his last epistles, he designates himself the very
chief of sinners! He was brought to know himself
— a knowledge in which all wisdom centers. If we knew
ourselves as he did — pride and self-delight would find no
room within us!

But, above all, let us consider Him who said, "Take my yoke
upon you and learn from Me — for I am gentle and humble in
heart." The heaven of heavens could not contain Him; all
the fullness of the Eternal Godhead dwelt in Him; devils
trembled at His rebuke, and flew from His presence to the
abodes of misery; yet how gentle, how humble He was! Reader,
aspire after conformity to Christ — in His humility.

Against the proud
— God's displeasure has been manifested in all ages.

Think of Pharaoh. The language of that proud monarch
was, "Who is the Lord — that I should obey Him?" But the
Divine Majesty could not bear to be thus insulted; hence the puny
worm with all his legions were destroyed — they sank as
lead in the mighty waters!

Think of Nebuchadnezzar. Hear his boasting
exclamation, "Is not this great Babylon that I have
built, by the might of my power, and for the honor of
my majesty?" But God resisted him, and he was turned
from the society of men — to eat grass with the beasts of the
field!

Think of Herod. With what delight did he receive the
applause of the people, when they cried, "It is the voice of a
god, and not the voice of man!" But the angel of the Lord
smote him — and he was eaten with worms!

While, however, God resists the proud — He has
promised to give grace unto the humble. The humble
are the objects of His special regard. "For thus says
the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is
holy: I dwell in the high and holy place" — that is one of the
palaces of the Great King, where the throne of His glory
is erected — where the countless armies of cherubim and
seraphim are stationed, and where perfected saints reside. But
He has another place of habitation: "with him also,
who is humble and contrite in spirit!"

O Lord, subdue the pride of my heart; and help me to
manifest, by my whole demeanor — that humility of spirit
which is in Your sight of great price!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Could we
look into the lake of fire!
(John MacDuff, "The Footsteps of
Jesus" 1856. This one is longer — but it is choice!
Please forward it to those who are going through
times of affliction.)

"Why should any living man complain?"
Lamentations 3:39

Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly
upwards. We are not therefore to think that any strange
thing has happened to us — if sorrow, in any of
its multifarious forms, befalls us here on earth.

"If you endure chastening," says the apostle,
"God deals with you as with sons." But HOW should we
endure it?

It should be done in an inquiring spirit. We
ought to be anxious to know the cause of the
painful visitation. With the patriarch of old, our
language should be, "Show me why You contend
with me?"

It should be done also in a prayerful spirit —
"Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray."

And it should be done especially in a submissive spirit.
We should not merely feel the 'chastening rod'
— but kiss it! Instead of cherishing any
feelings of murmuring and rebellion under the afflictive
dispensations of God's providence — we should humbleourselves under His mighty hand, that He may
exalt us in due time. And how many considerationsare
there, which should induce and promote such a submissive
spirit towards affliction!

1. If we compare oursufferings — with our deserts
— shall we not find abundant reason to banish every complaint,
and hush every murmur into silence?

Should we complain ofour light and momentary
trouble — when we deserve to be tormented in hell
forever?

Should we complain of the chastisements of a
gracious Father — when we have rendered ourselves
obnoxious to the sentence of a holy and angry Judge?

Should we complain that God sits by us as a refiner
to purify us — when He might be a consuming fire
to destroy us?

Should we complain that we have to pass under the rod
of His love — when we might have been set up as a
"mark for the arrows of His indignation, and His terrors
be arrayed against us?"

Could we look into the lake of
fire, and have a sight of the wretched
beings who are there writhing in deathless agonies — we
would then thank God for the most miserable condition on
earth — if it were only sweetened with the hope of
escaping that place of eternal torment!

2. Let us think,
again, of the many mercies of which we have
been, and still continue to be, the subjects. "And shall
we receive good at the hand of God — and shall
we not receive evil?" Should we not receive our afflictions
from the Divine hand with similar feelings? Should
we forget our blessings — which are so many; and
dwell upon our crosses — which are so few?

3. It would be well
also for us to compare our sufferings — with what
others have had to endure. The people of God have
been, in all ages, a suffering people; and many of them
could say with special emphasis, "I am the man who
has seen affliction!"

Look at the godly man, Job. In a single day he
was cast down from the highest pinnacle of prosperity —
to the lowest depths of adversity! In the morning — he
was the richest man in all the East — and with
patriarchal dignity he looked around upon the joyous
circle of seven sons and three daughters. But in the
evening — he found himself without flock, or herd, or
child!

O what are our troubles — compared with his?
And did he murmur? No, he adored the hand that
smote him! Prostrate in the dust he exclaimed, "I came
naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I
leave. The Lord gave me what I had — and the
Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the
Lord!"

But let us turn from the servant — to the Master,
and consider Him. What was His condition during His
earthly sojourn? He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief; notwithstanding His infinite dignity and
unsullied purity! Our sufferings are only partial
— but He suffered in every way. Ours are only occasional
— but His sufferings were uninterrupted — they
accompanied Him from the manger to the cross! What He
endured, especially during the closing scenes of His
memorable career, passes all comprehension! Hear His
heart-rending cry, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful,
even unto death!" "And being in an agony —
He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

O shall we compare our sufferings — with His? To do so
would be to weigh a mote against a mountain!
If we desire to bear our trials with submission —
let us think much, then, of what the Savior endured for
us!
Would you, Christian, wish to fare better than Him?
Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows — and are you not
to even taste the bitter cup?
He was acquainted with grief — and would you be a stranger
to it?
Would you have nothing but ease — where He had nothing
but trouble?
Would you have nothing but honor — where He had
nothing but disgrace?
Would you reign with Him hereafter — and not suffer
with Him here?
O say, then, with Him, "The cup which My Father has given
Me — shall I not drink it?" And as you drink your cup —
O, think of His! Well may we say —

"How bitter that cup, no heart can conceive,
Which He drank quite up, that sinners might live;
His way was much rougher and darker than mine,
Did Jesus thus suffer — and shall I repine?"

"Now let our pains be all forgot,
Our hearts no more repine;
Our sufferings are not worth a thought,
When, Lord, compared with Thine!"

4. Another consideration
that should produce a spirit of submission is — that our
sorrows are not to last forever. Your deliverance
from sorrow is as sure as the purpose, the promise,
the covenant, the oath of God can render it! And not merely is
it certain — but it is near! A few weeks, or months,
or years more — and all will be peace and quietness and bliss
forever!

5. And, it must be added
Christian, that your end will be unspeakably glorious.
"God will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be
no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things
are gone forever!" There will be no shattered frame — no
emaciated countenance — no furrowed cheek — no faltering
voice, in those blessed regions! There every eye shall
sparkle with delight — every countenance will beam
with ineffable satisfaction — every pulse will beat
high with immortality — and every frame will be able
to sustain without weariness, an eternal weight of glory!

O child of sorrow — think of these things! Be anxious
to feel their hallowing influence, that resignation may have
her perfect work, and that no murmuring spirit may be indulged
in, even for a moment!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The gods
of the unregenerate soul
(John MacDuff, "The Christian's Pathway" 1858")

"Their heart went after their idols!" Ezekiel
20:16

"These men have set up idols in their heart!" Ezekiel 14:3

The world, self, and sin — these are the gods of the unregenerate
soul.

"I have learned to be content whatever
the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and
I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation, whether well fed — or
hungry, whether living in plenty — or in need."
Philippians 4:11-13

It is from the state of our minds that
contentment arises — and not from the amount of our
possessions. If we are not content with those
things which we have — we are not likely to be
content, if we succeeded in attaining all that we desire.
The possession of all the good we may think it desirable
or even possible to attain — would still leave an aching
void; there would still be "a cruel something"
unpossessed. But when the mind and the present
condition are brought to meet — then, and then
only, will true contentment be found! If our heart is
brought to our condition — then our condition
will then be according to our heart.

The consideration that our earthly lot is appointed
by God — that it is He who fixes the bounds of our
habitation — is eminently calculated to promote
contentment. We are to remember that He is not merely
the Creator — but the Governor of the
world; and that every circumstance which transpires in
our life, is under His superintendence and control. And
hence we find the people of God, in every age, passing
by merely second causes — until they came to
the First Great Cause of all. They heard His voice,
and saw His hand — in whatever befell them.

There are some who think that it is beneath the notice
of God to regard such trivial events as those
which make up our common everyday history. But in God's
estimation, the distinctions of great and
small, of vast and minute — are altogether unknown. It
is not a greater act of condescension in God to number
the hairs of our head — than it is for Him to
number the stars of heaven; the one being as
near to His immensity as the other. Such is His infinite
greatness, that in comparison with it — the mightiest
world is on a level with the smallest atom!

This doctrine is clearly taught in the volume of
inspiration. He who rules in the armies of heaven — who
commissions angels and flaming seraphs that stand before
His throne, saying to one, "Come!" and he comes, and to
another, "Go!" and he goes; who wheels the innumerable
worlds which are scattered through the immensity of
space in their appointed courses — this great, adorable,
incomprehensible Being, regards with tender compassion
the poor little sparrow which falls unheeded to
the ground, and clothes the lowliest flower with
its tints of beauty! Of His care, we are warranted in
saying that nothing is too great to be
above it — and that nothing, on the other hand, is too minute
to be beneath it!

Were the doctrine of "chance" a doctrine of God's Word,
there might then be some reason for our murmuring. But
if it is He who makes poor — and who makes
rich; who brings low — and lifts up; if whatever befalls
us is by His appointment or permission, whom we profess
to love and honor — then, surely, contentment with
our lot must be a reasonable duty indeed!

"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God
with wrongdoing." Job 1:22. Job saw the hand of God
in all that took place! It was not to the invasion of
the Sabeans and Chaldeans — that he traced the loss of
his property. It was not to the fury of "mother
nature" — that he traced the death of his children.
No! He looked farther and higher! Prostrate in adoration
at the Divine footstool, he exclaimed, "I came naked
from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of
everything when I die. The Lord gave me
everything I had — and the Lord has taken it
away. Praise the name of the Lord!"

Now, how important it is, that the same mind which was
in Job — should be in us also. To murmur under
the Divine dispensations — to be dissatisfied with
the lot which has been appointed to us — to be
always complaining of one circumstance or
another — what is this, in effect — but to charge God
with wrongdoing? It is practically to attribute folly
to Him who is the only wise God, and whose knowledge
and understanding are infinite! O let us beware then of
a discontented spirit — remembering that God orders all
our affairs!

Whatever He gives us — let us thankfully
receive it.

Whatever He denies us — let us be satisfied
without it.

Whatever He takes from us — let us
uncomplainingly part with it.

Whatever trial He lays on us — let us endeavor
patiently to bear it.

Yes, our lot in life, with all its attendant
circumstances, is chosen by God! Let the sun of
prosperity shine — or let the clouds of
adversity lower; let our path be smooth — or let
it be rugged; we should be disposed to say, "It is the Lord's will — let Him do what He
thinks best!" We may be
often afflicted, being called to eat the bread of
trouble, and drink the waters of affliction
— but let us not rest until we can utter these words. We
may not be able now to see how it is good; but let us
think of the wisdom and love of Him who placed us there
— and can we doubt it, whether we understand
it or not? He is too wise
to err — and too good to be unkind!

"Good when He gives, supremely good,
Nor less when He denies!
Even crosses from His sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise!"

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ — set your
hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. Set your minds on things above — not on earthly
things!" Colossians 3:1-2

The history of six thousand years has given indisputable
evidence of the insufficiency of all earthly objects to
yield true and satisfying enjoyment.
Man has needs — which no earthly riches can supply;
he has soul diseases — which no human skill can cure;
he has fears — which no mortal courage can quell;
he has debts — which no finite resources can
discharge; and
he has miseries — which no earth-born sagacity can
console.

In earthly things, to whatever extent they may be possessed,
there is a lack of adaptation to yield real
happiness. It is recorded of Caesar, that he
exclaimed, when in possession of universal empire, "Is this all?" His
expectations of happiness were not answered by the attainment
of worldly things.

Reader, have you not often felt something similar to this? You
may have set your heart upon some distant object; and oh! what
sacrifices you made for its attainment! What
self-denial did you undergo! At length, perhaps, the desire of
your heart was granted you. But was it what you expected? Were
you not, on the contrary, led to exclaim, in the language of
the disappointed emperor, "Is
this all?"

It is an absolute certainty, that the things of earth cannot
satisfy the cravings of our immortal nature. Wealth, fame,
learning, pleasure, domestic happiness — none of these things
can do it. "Whoever drinks of these waters shall thirst
again," as the Savior declared to the Samaritan woman; "but
whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, shall never
thirst — but it shall be in him a well of water springing up
into everlasting life!"

But the things of earth, besides being unsatisfying in
their nature — are, at best, transitory in
their duration.

What are RICHES? 'Uncertain' is the epithet which the pen
of inspiration employs in describing them. (1 Timothy 6:16)
"Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? for riches
certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle
toward heaven!" (Proverbs 23:5)

What is PLEASURE? Something that is only for a season.

What is WISDOM? More precious than rubies, if it is the wisdom
which comes from above; but if it the wisdom of this world —
it also is vanity, and will soon pass away.

What is FAME? Often a bubble, no sooner blown — than it
bursts!

Yes, the earth itself is only temporary!

A Roman general, on one occasion, when elated by the splendors
of a triumphal entrance into the imperial city, which had been
awarded to him in honor of the victories he had won,
exclaimed, "Ah, that it would continue!" But, alas!
it did not continue. All the glittering pomp soon vanished! It
floated away like a fleeting dream. And so with all earthly
bliss — it will not, and cannot, continue. Had earthly
things a character of abiding permanence belonging to
them, men might with some semblance of reason, make them the
fit objects of their desires and pursuits. Such a character,
however, they do not possess. "The world with its lust is
passing away!" "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your
labor on what does not satisfy?"

But, O blessed heavenly world!
This fullness of joy;
this unclouded vision of God and the Lamb;
this sweet fellowship with saints and angels;
this day without a night;
this sky without a cloud;
this sea without a ruffle;
these ravishing melodies;
this seraphic transport and exulting joy
— they will continue — and that forever!
"We have a priceless inheritance — pure and undefiled, beyond
the reach of change and decay!" (1 Peter 1:4)

"O what folly, O what madness!
That my thoughts should go astray,
After toys and empty pleasures —
Pleasures only of a day!

This vain world, with all its trifles,
Soon, alas! will be no more;
There's no object worth admiring,
But the God whom I adore!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You have allowed the key
to rust!
(John MacDuff, "The Mind of Jesus" 1870)

"He continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12

Jesus was emphatically "a man of prayer". The Spirit was
"poured upon Him without measure" — yet He prayed! He was
incarnate wisdom, "needing not that any should teach Him"
— yet He prayed! He was infinite in His power, and
boundless in His resources — yet He prayed! How deeply
sacred are His prayerful memories that hover around the
solitudes of Olivet and the shores of Tiberias! He seemed
often to turn night into day — to redeem moments for
prayer, rather than lose the blessed privilege.

All His public acts were consecrated by prayer — His
baptism, His transfiguration, His miracles, His agony, His
death. He breathed away His life in prayer. "His last
breath," says Philip Henry, "was praying breath."

How sweet to think, in holding communion with God — that
Jesus drank of this very brook! He consecrated the bended
knee and the silent chamber. He refreshed
His fainting spirit at the same great Fountain-head from
which it is life for us to draw, and death to forsake.

Reader! do you complain of your languid spirit, your
drooping faith, your fitful affections, your lukewarm
love? May you not trace much of what you deplore — to an
unfrequented prayer chamber? The treasures are
locked up from you — because you
have allowed the key to rust! Your
hands hang down — because they have ceased to be uplifted
in prayer. Without prayer! This is . . .
the pilgrim without a staff;
the seaman without a compass;
the soldier going unarmed to battle!

Beware of encouraging what indisposes to prayer — of going
to the audience-chamber of God with soiled garments,
the din of the world following you, its
distracting thoughts hovering unforbidden over your
spirit. Can you wonder that the living water
refuses to flow through obstructed channels, or the heavenly
light to pierce murky vapors?

Among men, fellowship with lofty minds — imparts a certain
nobility to the character. Just so, in a far higher sense,
by communion with God — you will be transformed into His
image, and get assimilated to His likeness! Make every
event in life — a reason for fresh going to Him. If
difficulties in duty — bring them to the test of prayer.
If bowed down with anticipated trial — remember Christ's
preparation, "Sit here while I go and pray
yonder."

"The Son of Man did not come to be served — but to serve, and
to give His life as a ransom for many!" Matthew 20:28

The art of photography is now so perfect, that the
whole picture of a large newspaper can be taken in miniature
so small, as to be carried in a little pendant — and yet every
letter and point be perfect.

Just so, the whole life of Christ is photographed in one
little phrase, "not to be served — but to serve."

He came not to be served; if this had been
His aim — He would never have left heaven's glory, where He
lacked nothing, where angels praised Him and ministered unto
Him. He came to serve. He went about doing good. He
altogether forgot Himself. He served all He met — who would
receive His service. At last He gave His life in uttermost
service — giving it as a sin-atoning sacrifice for others. He
came not to be served — but to serve.

You say you want to be like Christ.
You ask Him to print His own image on your heart.
Here, then is the image! It is no vague dream of perfection
that we are to think of — when we ask to be made like
Christ. The Catholic monks thought that they were
becoming like Christ — when they went into the wilderness, away
from men, to live in cold cells. But that is not the what
this picture suggests. "To serve" — that is the Christlike
thing! Instead of fleeing away from the world — we are to live
among men, to serve them, to seek to bless them, to do them
good, to give our life for them!

"Do unto others — what you would like them to do unto
you!" Matthew 6:12
What a happy world would this be if the
above command, or the parallel one of, "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself," were universally acted
upon!

There would be then no wars, no antipathies, no rivalries
among nations. There would be no jealousies or bitter
contentions among neighbors and families. There would be
no haughtiness or oppression in the rich — and no envy or
discontent in the poor. No heart would burn with anger, no
breast rankle with revenge. Every species of violence,
fraud, deceit, and treachery would be forever abolished!

Such would be the effects produced — were this precept
embodied in the hearts and lives of men.

Let us guard, then, against every violation of this
simple but sublime law. Let us seek, especially, to
mortify that selfishness to which we are so
prone; and, after the example of the Great Master, "Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of
you should look not only to your own interests, but also
to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the
same as that of Christ Jesus!"

Of the enemies of the cross of
Christ, the apostle declares that they "mind earthly things."
They are only concerned about increasing their stores, and
thus be able to say with the rich man of whom the Savior
speaks, that they have much goods laid up for many years; on
the strength of which they intend to take their ease, and eat,
drink, and be merry. All their thoughts are of the earth,
earthy. The things of time and sense — they
regard as first and last, middle and end.

It is impossible for the mind to be governed
at the same time by two opposite principles. The love of the world
— and the love of God — are diametrically opposed to
each other. "If any man loves the world — the love of the
Father is not in him." "Don't you know that the friendship of
the world — is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, will be a
friend of the world — is the enemy of God." "You cannot serve
both God — and mammon."

To borrow a quaint illustration from one of
our old writers, "When you see a dog
following two men — so long as they walk
together, you do not know to which of them the dog belongs.
But let them come to a parting road and there
separate from each other — then it will soon be seen who is
the owner, for the dog will follow his master wherever he
goes."

Just so, an individual may pursue the world,
and retain a Christian profession at the same time — and it is
often difficult to ascertain whether God or the world
possesses his affections. But by and bye he comes to a parting
road, when God calls him one way, and the world another
way — and then he will show to whom he really belongs. If God
is his master — then he will follow and obey God. But if the
world is his master — then he will follow after it!

O my soul, how are you affected by the
respective claims of the things of time — and those of
eternity? After a few more rising and setting suns, it
will be a matter of total indifference to you — whether you
have been rich or poor, successful in your business or
unsuccessful. But it will be of unspeakable consequence —
whether you have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set
before you in the gospel.

Listen, then, to the words of the Lord Jesus,
"Do not labor for food that spoils — but for food that endures
to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." "Do not
store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do
not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How long
will you love vanity?
(James Smith,
"Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)

"How long will you love vanity?"
Psalm 4:2

The Lord is often represented in His word as expostulating
with us. He manifests the deepest interest, shows
intense pity, and uses many means to draw us back from
the vortex of ruin.

But man, thoughtless man, silly man — rushes on his way,
trifles with his soul, and plays on the brink of the
most dreadful precipice! He is in love with his sin
— and therefore in love with his own destruction!
But God does not abandon him to despair — but
touchingly, tenderly, lovingly — He expostulates with
him and asks, "How long will you love vanity?"

Man by nature sets his heart upon what is vain and
worthless — that which is not suited to, or required by,
his immortal nature. Vanity represents that which is
light, changeable, and of brief duration. Man
displays his love of vanity . . .
by preferring human friendship — to God's
friendship,
by thinking much more of the creature — than the
Creator;
by preferring earthly riches — to heavenly
felicities;
by preferring carnal pleasures — to spiritual
delights!

Nor only so — but he manifests his foolishness by indulging
in sin — the worst of vanities!

Look at the profane swearer, the drunkard, the glutton,
the proud, the lover of pleasure. They are in love with
vanity! They imagine that they shall have pleasure and
enjoy happiness — but they never ponder the questions, "What
shall it profit a man — if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? What shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?"

God asks the lover of vanity, "How Long!" "How
long will you love vanity?" You have been doing so for
years. Some for twenty, some for forty, and some for
sixty years! You have manifested love to vanity — though
warned, though convinced you were doing wrong, though
you have often promised to reform. You are still loving
vanity . . .
though mortality is at work within you,
though death is very near to you,
though eternity is within a step of you,
though hell is ready to receive you!

You persevere in loving vanity . . .
while a pardon is presented to you,
while peace with God may be enjoyed by
you,
while holiness may be obtained by you,
and
while heaven is within your reach!

How long will you love vanity?
Until some affliction unfits you to seek the
world?
Until God's Spirit no longer strives with you?
Until Satan fills your heart?
Until God laughs at your calamity?
Until some sudden stroke takes you away to hell?

How long?

Let your past foolishness suffice, and now, while the door
of mercy is open, enter!

Now, while the way of escape is clear — flee for your
life!

No one ever came too soon — thousands have delayed too
long! No one ever regretted that he was saved too early
— millions have cursed their folly that they were not
saved at all! Myriads wish that they had never been born
— because they persevered in such folly. Beware then,
beware — lest you rue your folly too late! Love vanity
no longer!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jesus
and the Sinner
(James Smith,
"Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)

All that Jesus does
for lost sinners — He does freely, out of pure pity,
kindness, and love.

Yet we are always
looking for something in ourselves — to
encourage us! On the other hand, we tend to look at some
sin committed by us — which discourages us.
Whereas we should look only to Jesus. I want now,
for a few minutes, to fix the eye of your mind on what
Jesus does for sinners — how He acts toward them
at the present day.

Jesus calls the
sinner. He says, "Come unto Me. Come, just as you are.
Come, this moment. Come, for all that you need. Come,
for all that you desire. Come, and be saved. Come, and I
will satisfy you. Come, and commit all your concerns to
Me, and I will make all things that occur, work together
for your good."

Jesus receives
the sinner when he comes. He receives every
sinner, however base, vile, or unworthy he may be! He
receives the sinner graciously — pardoning every
sin, forgiving and forgetting all that he has done
amiss, and treating him with the utmost kindness.

Jesus cleanses
the sinner. In the fountain of His precious
blood, and in the laver of His holy Word — He cleanses
him from guilt and pollution — fitting
him for holy service on earth, and for holier service in
heaven. Nor is there any getting rid of guilt — but by
His blood; nor of impurity — but by His Spirit working
with His Word!

Jesus clothes
the sinner. Cleansed from guilt and filth — we
are clothed in His garments of salvation, and
are covered with His robe of righteousness. All
that is necessary for our honorable appearance in heaven
among the glorified — He undertakes to provide.

Those who trust in
Him, are completely nourished by Him.
Jesus feeds the sinner. His flesh and blood becomes our
daily food. We can no more live and be healthy, without
nourishing food for the body — than we can live and be
happy, without sweet and frequent nourishment from
Christ. There is in the renewed soul — a craving for
Christ, and it is never satisfied — but as it realizes
His presence, meditates on His Word, or is solaced with
His love!

Jesus employsthe sinner. Having called, received, cleansed,
clothed, and nourished him — He sets him to WORK. He
gives him a cross to carry, and a plot in
his vineyard to cultivate. He sends him to speak to
others of His grace, and to manifest to others
His temper and disposition. He sends him to the poor
widow's cottage, to the sick man's chamber,
and to the ignorant soul's home — and says, "Feed
them for Me; comfort them for Me; and teach
them for Me!"

Jesus comfortsthe sinner. Yes, when he is depressed and
discouraged, when he is low and cast down. He consoles
by some special providence, by some seasonable portion
of His Word, by the counsel of some friend, or by the
sweet whispers of His Spirit.

Jesus assuresthe sinner. Assures him of His love to him,
of a saving interest in His finished work, and
of a title to heavenly mansions! When
Jesus assures us — our doubts and fears depart,
our unbelief is destroyed, and our souls are filled with
peace and joy.

Jesus visitsthe sinner. He says, "I will come unto him." And He
does come, and brings with Him — pleasant light,
precious fruits, and joy and peace. He says, "I will
come and sup with him — and he with Me." And He draws
him out into such sweet, near and dear communion with
Himself — that no costly meal, no delightful company —
can be compared to it.

Jesus restoresthe sinner. For as astonishing as it may appear, it
is nevertheless true — that we are prone to wander!
We leave light — for darkness!
We leave plenty — for poverty!
We leave joy — for sorrow!
We leave a paradise — for a desert!
And having wandered, we would never find our way back —
if He did not come after us! But, blessed be His holy
name — He does! And then He restores our souls,
and again feeds us in green pastures, causing us to lie
down beside the still waters!

Jesus reprovesthe sinner. However He may spare our persons
— He never spares our sins! He visits our transgressions
with the rod, and our iniquities with
stripes! His reproofs are often sharp. Cutting
convictions, heavy losses, severe trials, perplexing
troubles, bodily sickness, and painful bereavements —
are some of the RODS which He employs. But
however numerous and heavy His strokes
— they are lighter than our guilt, and fewer
than our sins! He deals with us as with sons.
He chastens us for our profit — and to make us partakers
of His holiness!

Jesus glorifies the sinner. Glorifies him with Himself — and
confers on him an eternal weight of glory! What it is to
be glorified — we do not fully know. At the
least, it is to be freed from all that is
sinful, painful, and degrading — and to be invested
with all that is bright, beautiful, and blessed. It
is to be made as like Jesus as possible, and to
be with Him where he is forever!

O wondrous grace,
of a wondrous Savior!

Believer, this
precious Savior is yours!

Will you not love
Him then?

Will
you not bear witness to the power and sweetness of His
love, to the joy and happiness that are found in His
ways?

Will
you not observe His statutes and keep His laws?

Will
you not come out of the world, which is peopled by His
enemies — and be separated to Him? Can you mingle with
the carnal, and frequent places of worldly amusement?
Must you go to the world to be gratified and amused?

Beware
how you wound your precious Savior's loving heart!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The work of
the Holy Spirit
(James Smith,
"Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)

I love to meditate on the
work of the Holy Spirit, to whom we are so much
indebted, and from whom we receive such great and invaluable
blessings. To Him, I feel that I am indebted, for every good thought,
and for every good work. How wonderful His patience —
that He should bear with me so long; and how
wonderful His loving-kindness — that He should confer on
me so much! O that I was more deeply sensible of my
obligations!

It was the Holy Spirit who quickened me
when I was dead in trespasses and sins — imparting a new life,
infusing new thoughts, and producing new desires
in my soul.

Having quickened me, He conquered
me — subduing the enmity of my heart, the obstinacy
of my will, the worldliness of my affections — and
bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of
Christ.

Having quickened and conquered me,
He comforted me, assuring me of a saving interest in
— the love of God, the perfect work of Jesus, the precious
promises of the Word, and the eternal rest which remains for
the people of God.

Having quickened, conquered,
and comforted me, He sanctified me —
separating me from the world, and setting me apart for my
Redeemer's glory and praise.

As my Sanctifier, He became my Guide
— leading me into the truth, conducting me out of the paths of
danger, and directing me into the everlasting way.

Not only my guide, but He became my Guard
— preserving me from danger, protecting me from foes, and
becoming a wall of fire round about me.

Whenever I wander — He reproves me; when I
willfully go astray — He corrects me, and makes me
smart for my folly.

The work He began so long ago — He carries on,
nor will He withdraw His hand from it, until it is perfected,
and I am fully fitted for glory.

Reader, what do you experimentally
know of the work of the Holy Spirit?
Has He quickened you?
Has He conquered you?
Does He comfort you?
Are you sanctified by His presence, power, and
operation in your heart?
Does He . . . guide you by His counsel,guard you by His power, andcorrect you for your follies?

The work of the Spirit within us —
is as necessary as the work of Jesus for us! For if
the atonement of Christ entitles us to glory — it is
the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to possess and
enjoy it. We must be washed, justified, and sanctified, in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God — or we
cannot be saved!